of  ^lei^onoin 


BXJRE^TJ  OE 

Mr,  Census  and  Industrial 

Iv  A w s 

RELATING  TO 

F'ersonal  Safety 

'actories,  Worksl^ops,  Hotels,  Lodging  Houses, 
f't]urcl]es.  Public  Halls  aqd  School  Buildings; 

ALSO,  ENACTMENTS  IN  RESPECT  OF 

HOURS  OF  LABOR,  CHILD  LABOR, 

)ection  of  Elevators,  Factories  and  Other 
Buildings; 

AND  DUTIES  AND  LIABILITIES  OP 

irehiteets,  Proprietors  and  Other  Persons. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  BUREAU. 


1893. 


j.  DOBBS,  Commission'er 
F.  M.  DYER,  Deputy, 


J.  W.  ZWASKA, 

S.  L.  VAN  ETTEN, 


Faetory  Inspectors-. 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


Powers  and  Duties  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor, 
^ Census  and  Industrial  Statistics. 

Section  4,  chapter  247,  laws  of  1885.  The  duties  of  the 
said  commissioner  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor,  Census  and  Indus- 
V trial  Statistics  shall  be  to  collect,  collate  and  publish  statis- 
tics and  facts  relative  t(j  the  manufactures,  industrial  classes 
and  material  resources  of  the  state;  and  especially  to  exam- 
ine into  the  relations  between  labor  and  capital;  the  means 
of  escape  from  fire,  and  protection  of  life  and  health  in  fac- 
tories and  work  shops,  the  employment  of  illegal  child  labor, 
the  exaction  of  unlawful  hours  of  labor  from  women  and 


children,  the  educational,  sanitary,  moral  and  financial 
condition  of  laborers  and  artisans,  the  cost  of  food,  fuel, 
clothing  and  building  material,  the  causes  of  strikes  and 
lockouts,  as  well  as  kindred  subjects  and  matters  pertaining 
to  the  welfare  of  industrial  interests  and  classes. 

Section  5.  The  commissioner,  his  deputy,  or  the  factory 
>4li^pector,  shall  have  power  to  enter  any  factory  or  work- 
shop in  which  labor  is  employed,  for  the  purpose  of  gather- 
ing facts  and  statistics,  or  of  examining  the  means  of  escape 
from  fire,  and  the  provisions  made  for  the  health  and  safety 
of  operatives  in  such  factory  or  workshop;  and  in  case  the 
officer  of  the  bureau  shall  discover  any  violations  of,  or 
neglect  to  comply  with,  the  laws  in  respect  to  child  labor, 
hours  of  labor  for  women  or  children,  fire  eS'Capes,  and 
similar  enactments  now  or  hereafter  to  be  made,  he  shall 
notify  the  owner  or  occupant  of  such  factory  or  workshop,  in 
writing,  of  the  offense  or  neglect,  and  if  such  offense  or 
neglect  is  not  corrected  or  remedied  within  thirty  days  after 
^he  service  of  the  notice  aforesaid,  he  shall  lodge  formal 


4 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


complaint  with  the  district  attorney  of  tlie  county  in  which 
the  offense  is  committed  or  tlie  neglect  occur,  whereupon 
that  officer  shall  proceed  at  once  against  tlie  offender  accord-  j 
ing  to  law. 

Section  6.  The  factory  inspector  or  any  officer  of  the 
bureau  may  examine  hotels,  lodging  or  boarding  houses,  for 
the  purpose  of  discovering  whether  tliey  are  properly  erpiipped 
with  lawful  fire  escapes;  and  he  may  post  in  any  hotel,  lodg- 
ing or  boarding  house  so  examined,  the  laws  upon  this 
matter,  together  with  his  official  statement  as  to  whether 
the  said  laws  are  fully  complied  with  by  said  hotel,  lodging 
or  boarding  house.  And  any  hotel,  lodging  or  boarding 
house  keeper,  or  other  person,  who  shall  mutilate,  destroy 
or  remove  from  any  building  or  buildings,  the  said  laws  or 
statement  so  posted,  shall  be  fined  $50  for  each  and  every 
offense,  upon  complaint  of  any  officer  of  the  bureau  or  any 
citizen.  Whenever  any  hotel,  lodging  or  boarding  house 
that  has  been  posted  as  not  complying  with  the  terms  of  the 
laws  in  respect  to  fire  escapes,  shall  be  properly  provided 
and  equipped  with  lawful  fire  escapes,  and  the  bureau  shall 
be  notified  thereof,  the  commissioner  shall  at  once  order  a 
new  statement  setting  forth  that  fact,  to  be  posted  in  said 
hotel,  lodging  or  boarding  house.  And  the  bureau  shall 
keep  a record  of  all  buildings  so  examined  and  posted. 

Section  7.  The  factory  inspector,  or  any  officer  of  the 
bureau,  may  post  in  any  factory  or  workshop  examined  by 
him,  the  laws  now  or  hereafter  to  be  made  in  respect  of  child 
labor,  hours  of  labor,  fire  escapes,  or  other  matters  per- 
taining to  the  health  and  safety  of  artisans;  and  if  the  owner, 
manager  or  proprietor  of  such  factory  or  workshop,  or  his 
agent,  or  any  person  whomsoever,  shall  remove,  destroy  or 


STATE  OF  WISCONSIN. 


5 


mutilate  the  laws  so  posted,  he  shall,  on  complaint  of  any 
ufhcer  of  the  bureau,  or  any  citizen,  be  fined  $50  for  each 
^ and  every  offense. 

Section  8.  The  said  commissioner  shall  have  power  to 
prescribe  blank  forms,  and  transmit  them  to  employers, 
which  shall  be  filled  out  clearly  and  completely,  under  oath, 
by  the  person  or  persons  to  whom  they  are  sent,  with  the 
facts,  statistics  and  statements  asked  for,  and  returned  to 
him  within  such  reasonable  time  as  he  may  fix.  In  case  any 
owner  or  occupant,  or  his  agent,  shall  reluse  to  admit  any 
officer  of  the  said  bureau  to  his  workshop  or  factory,  he  shall 
forfeit  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  for  each  and  every  offense,  and 
if  he  shall,  through  his  agent  or  otherwise,  neglect,  fail  or 
refuse  to  fill  out  the  said  blank  forms,  and  verify  and  return 
them  as  required,  he  shall  forfeit  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  for 
each  and  every  day  the  said  blanks  may  be  so  delayed  be- 
yond the  time  fixed  by  the  commissioner  for  their  return. 
The  forfeits  named  and  provided  in  this  act  shall  be  sued 
for  in  the  name  of  the  state,  by  the  district  attorney  of  the 
proper  county,  upon  complaint  of  any  officer  of  said  bureau, 
or  any  citizen,  and  shall  be  paid  into  the  school  fund. 

Labor  of  ChiJdren. 

Section  i,  chapter  109,  laws  of  1891.  No  child  under 
fourteen  years  of  age  shall  be  employed  at  labor  or  service 
in  any  mine,  factory,  workshop  or  place  of  public  entertain- 
ment or  amusement,  in  this  state,  except  upon  permit  as 
hereinafter  provided;  but  nothing  herein  shall  interfere  with 
or  prohibit  the  employment  of  such  child,  in  the  service  of 
its  parent  outside  of  school  hours. 

SECTION  2.  The  county  judge  of  the  county  wherein  any 
child  resides,  may  by  order  of  record,  grant  a permit  and 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


() 

deliver  a copy  thereof  under  seal,  to  any  child  over  twelve 
years  of  age  exempting  such  child  from  the  operation  of  this 
act  as  to  employment.  Every  such  permit  shall  specify  the  ^ 
conditions  and  the  time  during  which  such  child  may  be  em- 
ployed, fixing  such  limitations  as  to  said  judge  shall  seem 
proper;  and  in  determining  whether  such  permit  shall  be 
granted,  the  said  county  judge  shall  consider  the  moral  and  ^ 
physical  condition  of  the  child,  his  state  of  education,  the 
necessities  of  the  family  to  which  such  child  belongs,  and 
such  other  circumstances  as  in  the  discretion  of  the  judge 
ought  to  affect  the  question  of  exemption.  No  charge  or  fee 
shall  be  required  in  any  matter  under  this  section;  provided, 
that  where  such  child  resides  at  a distance  of  more  than  ten 
miles  from  the  county  seat,  the  power  to  grant  permits 
herein  conferred  upon  the  county  judge  may,  under  the 
same  limitations  and  with  the  same  conditions  be  exer- 
cised by  the  mayor  of  the  city  or  the  president  of  the  in- 
corporated village  in  which  or  nearest  to  which  said  child 
or  its  parent  reside. 

Section  3.  Any  person,  company,  firm  or  corporation 
that  employs  or  permits  to  be  employed  at  work  any  child 
in  violation  of  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  act,  and  any 
parent  or  other  person  having  the  control  of  any  such  child 
who  permits  such  employment,  shall,  on  conviction,  be 
punished  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  fifty 
dollars.  Nothing  herein  shall  be  construed  to  interfere 
with  the  district  attorney  of  any  county  presenting  violations 
of  this  act. 

Section  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  commissioner  of 
the  Bureau  of  Labor,  Census,  and  Industrial  Statistics,  the 
factory  inspector  and  the  deputy  or  deputies  of  said  bureau 


STATE  OF  WISCONSIN. 


7 


to  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  act  and  to  prosecute  all 
violations  thereof  before  any  magistrate  or  any  court  of 
I competent  jurisdiction. 

Fire  Escapes— Factories. 

Section  i,  chapter  50,  laws  of  1885.  Section  4,575^;  of 

the  revised  statutes,  is  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows: 
V 

Section  4,575^?.  Any  person,  persons  or  body  corporate 
owning,  occupying  or  controlling  any  factory,  workshop  or 
structure  three  or  more  stories  high,  in  which  several  per- 
sons are  employed  at  any  kind  of  labor,  on  or  above  the 
third  floor  or  story,  shall  provide  and  keep  connected  with 
the  same,  one  or  more  good  and  substantial  metallic  or  fire- 
proof ladders,  stairs  or  stairways,  ready  for  use  at  all  times, 
reaching  from  the  cornice  to  the  ground,  on  the  outside  of 
such  building,  and  placed  in  such  position  as  to  be  easy  of 
access  to  the  occupants  of  such  building  in  case  of  fire,  and 
sufficient  to  furnish  reasonable  means  of  escape  to  the  per- 
sons employed  therein,  from  each  and  every  floor  or  story. 
And  any  such  person,  persons  or  corporate’ body  who  shall 
for  three  months  after  the  passage  and  publication  of  this 
act  fail  to  provide  and  keep  such  means  of  escape  from  fire, 
shall  be  subject  to  a fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars, 
or  to  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding  three 
months,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Fire  Escapes  — Hotels,  Office  Buildingrs,  As- 
sembly Halls,  Tenement  Houses,  etc. 

Section  i,  chapter  375,  laws  of  1885,  as  amended  by  the 
laws  of  1889. — Section  i.  Every  inn,  hotel,  boarding 
house,  or  tenement  building  in  this  state,  more  thanj  two 
stories  in  height,  comaining  sleeping  apartments,  offices, 
theaters  or  assembly  halls  above  the  ground  floor,  designed 


8 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


for  occupancy  by  twenty- five  or  more  persons,  shall  be  pro- 
vided with  not  less  than  two  fire-proof  stairs  or  ladders  out-^ 
side;  said  stairs  or  ladders  to  be  located  on  different  sifles 
of  said  inn,  hotel,  boarding-house  or  tenement  building,  in 
each  case  connecting  the  cornice  with  the  top  of  the  fu  st 
story  of  any  such  inn,  hotel,  boarding  house  or  tenement'^ 
building,  with  a platform,  balcony,  piazza  or  other  safe  and 
convenient  resting  place  on  a level  with  the  floor  of  each 
story  so  connected.  Such  stairways  or  ladders  herein 
named  shall  in  every  case  be  convenient  of  access  from  the 
interior  of  any  such  building,  commodious  in  construction, 
and  of  sufficient  strength  and  firmness  to  render  the  same 
amply  safe  and  reliable  for  the  purpose  of  ascent  and  descent 
in  case  of  danger  from  fire.  But  this  act  shall  not  be  con- 
strued so  as  to  apply  to  private  dwellings. 

Section  2.  The  inside  walls  or  casings  of  every  elevator 
for  the  conveyance  of  passengers  to  and  from  the  upper 
stories  of  any  such  building  as  is  described  in  the  preceding 
section  of  this  act,  shall  be  constructed  of  fire-proof  material 
throughout. 

Section  3.  In  all  inns,  hotels  or  other  buildings  herein- 
before described,  not  less  than  one  efficient  watchman  shall 
be  on  service  from  10  o’clock  P.  M.  until  5 o’clock  a.  m., 
during  each  and  every  night  that  said  inn,  hotel  or  other 
building  described,  is  occupied,  and  every  said  watchman 
shall  be  required  to  establish  the  fact  of  his  fidelity  on  every 
occasion  when  on  duty,  by  the  most  efficient  methods  in  use 
for  that  purpose. 

Section  4.  In  every  inn,  hotel  or  other  building  herein- 
before described,  there  shall  be  posted  in  every  room,  in 


state  of  WISCONSIN. 


9 


legible  print,  a brief  and  accurate  statement  of  all  means  of 
4 safety  and  escape  in  case  of  fire. 

Section  5.  Any  owner,  landlord  or  other  person  in 
charge  of  any  building  hereinbefore  described,  and  coming 
^within  the  i)rovisions  of  this  act,  who  shall  omit  to  comply 
with  the  proviseons  of  this  act,  or  who  shall  knowingly  per- 
mit any  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be  held 
guilty  of  a misdemeanor  in  permitting  the  violations  of  any 
previsions  of  this  act,  and  for  such  misdemeanor  may  be 
punished  by  a fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  or  by 
imprisonment  not  exceeding  ninety  days,  on  each  conviction 
thereof. 

Passenger  and  other  Elevators  — Liability  of 
Proprietors -^Duty  of  District  Attorneys. 

Section  i,  chapter  453,  laws  of  1887.  The  state  factory 
inspector,  his  assistant,  or  any  officer  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor, 
Census  and  Industrial  Statistics,  may  examine  elevators  used 
for  carrying  freight  or  passengers,  or  both,  and  shall  condemn 
those  found  to  be  defective  or  unsafe  by  written  notice  given 
to  the  proprietor  or  owner,  or  the  agent  of  either,  or  by  post- 
ing said  notice  on  the  elevator  walls  or  cab.  And  if  any 
elevator  so  condemned  shall  be  continued  in  use  without 
repairs,  and  loss  of  limb  or  life  result  therefrom,  the  owner 
or  proprietor  so  keeping  it  in  use  shall  be  held  fully  respon- 
sible, civilly  and  criminally,  for  said  loss  of  life  or  limb. 

Section  2.  The  said  factory  inspector  or  any  officer 
named  in  section  i,  of  this  act,  shall  have  power  to  order 
bull- wheels,  fly-wheels,  tumbling  rods,  elevator  wells,  stair- 
ways, shafting  or  ' dangerous  machinery  of  any  kind  to  be 
guarded  and  protected,  so  as  not  to  hazard  the  safety  of  work- 
men or  visitors.  Any  person  refusing  to  obey  his  orders  in 


10 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


this  respect  shall  be  fined  fifty  dollars  for  each  and  every 
offense. 

Section  3.  Whenever  the  state  factory  inspector,  or  his^ 
assistant,  or  any  officer  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor,  Census  and 
Industrial  Statistics,  shall  file  complaint  with  any  district 
attorney  that  any  hotel,  factory  or  public  building,  or  any^ 
structure  whatsoever  in  his  county,  is  being  used  without 
fire  escapes,  watchmen  or  other  means  of  safety  prescribed 
by  law,  the  said  district  attorney  shall  at  once  proceed  against 
the  offender  according  to  law;  and  shall,  without  further 
aid  or  presence  of  the  slate  factory  inspector  or  the  other 
officers  ^lamed  in  this  section,  secure  the  necessary  wit- 
nesses and  evidence  for  the  complete  information  of  the  jury. 
And  in  case  he  shall  refuse  so  to  do,  the  state  factory  in- 
spector or  any  officer  named  in  this  act,  may  file  charges 
against  him  with  the  governor,  and  ask  his  removal  for 
willful  neglect  of  duty  and  malfeasance  of  office. 

Duties  of  Architects  and  Others. 

Section  i,  chapter  46,  laws  of  1887.  Any  architect  who 
shall  draw  plans  for,  or  superintend  the  erection  of  any 
school-house,  church,  hall,  factory  or  hotel,  without  providing 
in  said  plans  the  fire-escapes,  and  outward-swinging  doors 
now  required  by  law,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and 
on  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  twenty-five  dollars  for 
the  first  offense,  and  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  subse- 
quent offense. 

Seciton  2.  Any  person  or  persons,  body  corporate, 
official  or  officials,  who  shall  erect  or  cause  to  be  erected,  any 
building  named  in  this  act,  without  providing  the  fire-escapes 
and  outward-swinging  doors,  or  who  shall  neglect  to  provide 


STATE  OF  WISCONSIN. 


11 


the  same  as  required  by  law,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misde- 
meanor, and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  one 
|.undred  dollars. 

Outward-Swinging:  Doors. 

Section  i,  chapter  190,  laws  of  1885.  All  churches, 
]2iablic  and  private  school-houses,  hotels,  factories  or  other 
manufacturing  establishments,  constructed  at  any  time  after 
the  passage  of  this  act,  shall  be  so  constructed  that  the  doors 
shall  swing  outward,  or  both  in  and  out,  as  the  builders 
thereof  may  elect. 

Health  and  Safety  of  Employes. 

Section  i,  chapter  549,  laws  of  1887.  No  person,  per- 
sons or  corporation  shall  employ  and  put  to  work  in  any 
factory,  workshop  or  other  place  of  employment,  or  in  any 
room,  or  other  part  of  such  factory,  workshop  or  other  place 
of  employment,  more  persons  than  the  laws  of  health  will 
warrant,  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  board  of  health. 

Section  2.  Every  stationary  vat,  pan  or  other  structure 
with  moulten  metal  or  hot  liquids  shall  be  surrounded  with 
proper  safeguards  for  preventing  accidents  or  injury  to  those 
employed  at  or  near  them.  All  belting,  shafting,  gearing, 
hoists,  fly-wheels,  elevators  and  drums  of  manufacturing 
establishments  so  located  as  to  be  dangerous  to  employes 
when  engaged  in  their  ordinary  duties,  shall  be  securely 
guarded  or  fenced,  so  as  to  be  safe  to  persons  employed  in 
any  such  place  of  employment. 

Section  3.  Any  person,  company  or  corporation  who 
shall  refuse  or  fail  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
shall  forfeit  not  to  exceed  twenty-five  dollars  for  each  offense, 
and  every  day’s  failure  after  the  first  conviction  shall 


12 


INSPECTION  LAWS. 


constitute  a separate  ofTense,  after  due  notice  by  the  state 
factory  inspector. 

Interferlngr  with  Laborers  or  Machinery.  ^ 

Section  i,  chapter  427,  laws  of  1887.  Any  person  who 
by  threats,  intimidation,  force  or  coercion  of  any  kind,  shall 
hinder  or  prevent  any  other  peison  from  engaging  in  or  cOri- 
tinning  in  any  lawful  work  or  employment,  either  for  him- 
self or  as  a wageworker,  or  who  shall  attempt  to  so  hinder 
or  prevent,  shall  be  punished  by  a fine  not  exceeding  one 
hundred  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  not 
more  than  six  months,  or  by  both  fine  and  imprisonment,  in 
the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Section  2.  If  any  person  who  shall  individually  or  in 
association  with  one  or  more  others,  willfully  break,  injure 
or  remove  any  part  or  parts  of  any  railway  car  or  locomotive, 
or  any  other  portable  vehicle  or  traction  engine,  or  any  part 
or  parts  of  any  stationary  engine,  machine,  implement  or 
machinery  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  such  locomotive, 
engine,  car,  vehicle,  implement  or  machinery,  or  ol  prevent- 
ing the  useful  operation  thereof;  or  who  shall  in  any  other 
way  willfully  or  maliciously  interfere  with  or  prevent  the 
running  or  operation  of  any  locomotive,  engine  or  machinery, 
shall  be  punished  by  a fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dol- 
lars or  by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  or  the  state  prison 
not  exceeding  two  years,  or  by  both  fine  and  imprisonment 
in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 


STATE  OF  WISCONSIN. 


13 


f To  Prevent  Accidents  to  Employes. 

Section  i,  chapter  226,  laws  of  1891.  In  every  manu> 
facturing  establishment  where  the  machinery  used  is  pro- 
i^lled  by  steam  power,  communication  shall  be  provided 
between  each  room  where  such  machinery  is  placed  and  the 
room  where  the  engineer  is  stationed,  by  means  of  speaking 
tubes  or  electric  bells;  provided,  that  in  the  judgment  of 
the  inspectors  such  communication  is  necessary. 

Section  2.  The  factory  inspectors  shall  enforce  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  and  any  person,  firm  or  corporation,  being 
the  occupant  of  any  manufacturing  establishment,  or  con- 
trolling the  use  of  any  building  or  room  where  machinery 
propelled  by  steam  is  used,  violating  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  shall  be  fined,  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  fifty 
dollars;  but  no  prosecution  shall  be  made  for  such  violation, 
until  thirty  days  after  written  notice  by  an  inspector  has  been 
sent  by  mail  to  such  person,  firm  or  corporation,  of  any 
^hanges  necessary  to  be  made  to  comply  with  the  provisions 
of  this  act,  nor  then,  if  in  the  meantime,  such  changes  have 
been  made  in  accordance  with  such  notification. 

Section  3.  This  act  shall  lake  effect  and  be  in  force  from 
and  after  the  date  of  its  passage  and  publication. 


f 


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